Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: Wow! I received so many reviews for the last chapter! Thank you all so much! I finished up this chapter as quickly as I could to have it up for you all so soon to say thank you for your support! I received a review mentioning how seamlessly I am incorporating my fanfic into the canon plot and I just want to say I'm so glad! I really wanted this story to follow canon as much as possible without changing too many big, important events. This story is Dramione and canon does not have Dramione so of course I do have to change a few things here and there but overall I'd really like this to follow canon up until the war is over. You guys really wanted this chapter to be in Draco's POV so here you go!

Chapter 21

Draco clenched his fists at his sides as Greyback dragged Potter and Weasley down to the cellars. Why the fuck was Bella so keen on keeping Hermione alone? What the fuck was up that sword?

As soon as his mother had escorted the trio into the Malfoy Manor's drawing room Draco had felt his already fucked up world come crashing down around him. It had been months since he'd seen her, and he'd been glad about that. Having to face her after his ultimate betrayal would be much too hard.

She had changed. Her chocolate curls had grown longer since he had last seen her, now touching the bottom of her spine. She had lost weight and looked much thinner, most likely due to the difficulty of having sustainable meals while on the run. Her eyes lost the fire that Hermione Granger was known to possess and Draco wasn't sure if that was due to his betrayal or due to what she had gone through in this war so far. But despite all of her changes, she was still the most beautiful woman Draco had ever seen. The moment they had locked eyes he had wanted nothing more than to pull her in for a kiss and make love to the witch until dawn. Time had done nothing to Draco's feelings for her and he knew she would be the only witch he would ever be in love with.

The weeks after Dumbledore's death had been difficult for Draco. He had spent much of his time in his once beautiful bedroom which was now a fucked up, destroyed version of it which he had forbidden the house elves to clean. He spent his free time nursing a bottle of Firewhiskey and trying to drown out the image of Dumbledore falling to his death because of him, but most importantly to drown out Hermione Granger's watery brown eyes as she stared at him in the utmost betrayal. Even now, months after everything he still had trouble sleeping, eating and keeping his mind off of the immense guilt he felt.

Whenever he wasn't having a pity party for himself in his bedroom he was on Death Eater duty, following orders given to him and doing as he was told. The things he had seen in the last few months… he shuddered. He had seen people get eaten alive by the Dark Lord's snake on the Malfoy's dining table, he had seen people be tortured to death, he had had women begging him, clutching at his feet for help as the Dark Lord gave muggleborn women away to his disgusting Death Eater men to do as they pleased.

Not only had he seen some terrible things, but he had done some terrible things as well. Though Draco had succeeded in his task, the Dark Lord still seemed to enjoy humiliating the Malfoy's and taunting them during meetings. He had often been singled out by the Dark Lord and forced to take part in the torture of their prisoners, purely because the Dark Lord knew Draco was not able to kill. He had been called weak, cowardly and pathetic for not having killed Dumbledore as well as his inability to end the suffering of those who had been captured by the dark side.

He squeezed his eyes shut as images of the muggle man he had been forced to Crucio replayed in his head, and the sounds of the man's pleas for mercy pounded in his eardrums. The man had been captured simply for being a muggle. He had been a random target who had just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. He had been brought back to the Manor for the Death Eaters to "have some fun with".

It made his stomach turn over, it made bile rise in his throat. He didn't want it, not any of it. But he never stepped a foot out of line. He never offered his help to the prisoners. He never disobeyed the Dark Lord. Because as soon as he did, his mother would be done for. He would be done for. And Draco Malfoy was far too selfish to let that happen.

So he listened, he obeyed, and he sat quietly while the war raged on. He drowned his remorse in alcohol and shut off his feelings when he had to. He eagerly checked the Daily Prophet each day and always made sure to pocket any clippings of one Hermione Granger. He unconsciously reached into his trouser pocket and clutched the most recent picture of Hermione that had made the front page a few days ago. Every time he saw a photo of her and the reward for her capture he felt a mixture of both relief that she was alive and worry that she had such a price on her head.

But now… here she was. Live in the flesh. And she was about to die at the hands of his Aunt, in his own home. He watched as she was dragged by her beautiful chocolate curls and thrown across the floor. He clutched the photo of her tighter in his pocket as she stared up at his aunt.

"P-please." she whimpered, and Draco felt his stomach drop as she begged.

His eyes locked with her own and he stared intensely.

Be strong, Hermione. He thought, hoping she understood. He had to get her out. But how?

"You filthy little thief!" cried Bellatrix, raising her wand as she stared down at Hermione. "You stole this sword from my vault, didn't you, Mudblood? But how? How did you do it?" she hissed, slicing her wand through the air.

Hermione cried out, clutching her arm across her torso and Draco knew Bellatrix had sliced the skin there. "Well?" Bellatrix pressed, raising her wand again. "Speak!"

Hermione stubbornly shook her head as blood began to soak the front of her shirt. "Fine. I'll make you speak. Crucio!" Bellatrix cried, and the blood curdling scream that ripped through Hermione's throat made Draco step forward.

Draco felt a cool hand wrap around his forearm and he turned to look down at his mother. She squeezed his arm and shook her head the slightest bit. Draco paused in his step, brows furrowed. Did she know? But how?

His thoughts were interrupted as Bellatrix gleefully cackled, lifting the curse off of Hermione. He watched as the girl he loved twitched on the floor, tears flowing from her eyes. He knew how she felt. The Cruciatus curse was worse than death if you asked him.

"How did you steal my sword, mudblood?" Bellatrix asked, reaching down to pull Hermione's upper body up by her hair as she pressed the tip of her wand to her throat.

"I-I didn't." she cried, raising her hands to weakly try and pry Bellatrix's tight grip off of her. "P-please. I didn't steal it."

"You lie!" Bellatrix cried, releasing her hold on Hermione and drawing a knife from her pocket. "But no worries, mudblood. I can do this all day!" she grinned, crouching down next to Hermione and dragging her knife along the perimeter of her face.

"And when I'm done with you," she continued, as Hermione trembled under the threatening knife. "I'll let Scabior have you. And Greyback. They seemed to have taken a fancy to you, mudblood. I suppose they want a bite!" She now dragged the knife down Hermione's throat.

Draco saw red. He recalled how Scabior had held Hermione, his hand dangerously close to her breast. He knew what men like Scabior and Greyback did with women they wanted. He'd be damned if he let that happen to Hermione. Not after everything he had put her through already.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix cried again, watching in glee as Hermione cried out, her back arching off the floor.

"HERMIONE!" Draco heard Weasley cry out for her from the cellar as her scream echoed in the large drawing room.

He shook his head. Fuck this. He couldn't let this go on any longer. He drew his wand, raising it before he felt his mother clutch his arm once more.

"Draco, no." she breathed quietly next to him. She stared at him with a knowing expression and he stared back.

"Mother." he muttered, trying to subtly fight against her grip. He didn't want to draw the attention of his father. "Please. I… I love her." he whispered at last, staring at her pleadingly.

She stared at him, and Draco was surprised to see that she did not look one bit shocked. "I know, Draco." she reached up to cup his cheek and Draco's brows furrowed. "Just wait, my darling. I will help you get her out without getting any of us killed. Please… just wait for the proper moment."

Draco gritted his teeth as another scream tore from Hermione's throat. Wait? How could he wait? There would be nothing left of her to save if he waited much longer!

But he trusted his mother. She had always been there for him. She always had his best interest at heart. So he shut his eyes and thought back to his last night with Hermione. When he had told her he loved her back as they stared up at the stars above them. It had been the last time he had felt happy.

"It's not the real sword! I swear! It's a copy!" Hermione cried as the curse was lifted off her once more.

"Did the goblin help you get in my vault? Is that how you got it?" Bellatrix pressed, ignoring Hermione's desperate pleas.

"N-no! I've never met the goblin before tonight!" she shook her head, trying to back away from Bellatrix. "I-it's a fake! It's not the real sword!"

Bellatrix glared down at Hermione, watching as she scrambled back from her. "I don't believe you, mudblood." she spat, raising her wand once more.

"We can find out, Bella." said Narcissa. Draco's eyes snapped open as he turned to look at his mother in question. "Draco… go and get the goblin." she ordered, staring at him with knowing eyes.

Hermione laid still, her head tilted towards Draco and his mother. Her eyes were watery, dull and unfocused. They looked like the eyes of a woman who had fought and lost her last battle. She looked battered and beat up. She looked like she was welcoming death next.

Draco eyed his mother before nodding. Without another word he headed down to the cellar, his mind racing. How could he get her out of this?

"Stand back. Line up against the back wall. Don't try anything, or I'll kill you!" Draco called as he stood outside the cellar. "Goblin, come here." he ordered, watching as the goblin stepped forward.

"Malfoy you bloody snake!" cried Weasley, glaring at him. "If I ever get my hands on you, Malfoy, I swear-"

"Shut up, Weasley." he hissed, before turning to the goblin through the bars of the cellar. "My Aunt will ask you about the sword. You are to tell her it's a fake, understand?" he ordered, wand pointed at the goblin.

"What?" Weasley faltered as he stared at Draco. "You… you want him to lie? Why?"

Draco glared at Weasley for a moment before turning back to the goblin. Griphook nodded in agreement.

"Because he loves her." said Potter, finally stepping out from the shadows. "You knew it was us from the moment we came in, Malfoy. You're protecting her."

Draco clenched his jaw, pulling open the cellar door and fisting a handful of the goblin's collar. "I'll be back." he muttered to Potter and Weasley, choosing to ignore Potter's observation. "You lot are getting her out of here. I'll be back for you. Be ready."

Without waiting for a response he shut the cellar door again, pulling the goblin alongside him as he headed back up to the drawing room. The goblin would tell Bellatrix that the sword was a fake and throw his Aunt off a bit. Hopefully he would be able to buy some more time which he could use to get Potter and Weasley out so they could take Hermione and run.

"Here, the goblin." Draco said coldly, shoving Griphook towards his Aunt before he took his place back beside his mother.

His eyes drifted back to Hermione, who laid still with her back towards him now. Was she alive? She twitched slightly and he sighed in relief. She was still alive.

"Well, goblin?" Bellatrix shrieked, slapping Griphook across the face as she thrusted the sword in his direction. "Is it the real sword? Tell me!" she hissed, swiping her knife across the goblin's face.

Draco watched as Griphook stared at his Aunt with a cold expression on his face. "It is…" he began, eyeing the sword. "A fake." he finished and Draco's shoulder slumped slightly in relief.

Bellatrix eyed him for a minute before she pouted slightly. "Well, the mudblood wasn't lying then." she shoved Griphook aside, making her way over to Hermione once more.

She reached down, gripping Hermione's shoulder and pushing against it so Hermione laid on her back, her arms spread on either side of her. "I'd like to give you a little parting gift, mudblood." Belaltrix cooed, kneeling down next to Hermione's left arm.

She pulled out her knife once more and Draco frowned. What the fuck was she going to do? Bellatrix used one hand to grip Hermione's wrist and hold her in place while her knife hand reached down, slicing the skin of Hermione's forearm. Hermione shrieked in pain, her legs kicking out and her body shaking violently as Belaltrix hunched over, her long black curls hiding what she was doing.

"Mother." Draco muttered in panic, reaching out to take his mother's hand. What was Belaltrix doing now? Why couldn't she let Hermione go back to the cellar?

He couldn't take it. The sounds of her anguished cries, the way her body shook with pain. It was too much.

"What was that?" Narcissa asked suddenly, squeezing Draco's hand before dropping it.

Lucius frowned, turning his head towards the cellar. "Wormtail! Check on the prisoners!"

Peter Pettigrew's pathetic form stepped into the room and he nodded, scurrying towards the cellar.

"No." said Narcissa, stepping forward. "Draco will go. Wormtail is hardly trustworthy to take on those two boys." she lifted her chin towards Pettigrew in distaste.

Lucius eyed Pettigrew before turning to Draco. "Alright. Go then, Draco. Make sure they're not trying any funny business."

Draco swallowed hard, forcing his eyes away from Hermione's frantic form and nodding. It was going to be okay. He would let Potter and Weasley out and pretend they had out-duelled him somehow. Everyone would win.

He dashed back down to the cellar, throwing the cellar door open as soon as he reached it. "Potter!" he called, looking around the now empty cellar. Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, and Ollivander had all been here as well, but they were gone now. He shook his head, It didn't matter.

"Malfoy!" Potter called, as he and Weasley stepped out from the shadows.

"Let's go." he led them out of the cellar, stopping them when they stood at the bottom of the stairs leading back to the drawing room. "She's still in there, with my Aunt. A duel will break out as soon as you two come up. Do you have wands?"

"I've got one." said Weasley, nodding as he eyed the top of the stairs.

Draco nodded. "Potter, once we're up there Weasley can disarm me and you'll take mine. Just get her out of here, understand?"

Potter nodded, eyeing him suspiciously. "I know you two don't trust me. I don't give a shit. You don't have to trust me, or like me right now. Just… get her out of here. I can't do it alone. They'll kill my mother. They'll kill me." Draco hissed, hoping they would just listen for once.

Weasley glared at him for a few seconds and before Draco knew it, Weasley's fist had caught Draco's jaw in a sturdy punch, the force of the blow causing Draco's head to fly back. "What the fuck, Weasley?" he hissed, nursing his jaw as he felt anger rise within him.

Potter stared at Weasley in question and Weasley simply shrugged. "What? We've gotta make it look like we fought you out of that cellar, don't we? Well now it does." he nodded his chin towards Draco's bleeding lip and Draco scowled.

Before either of them could say anything, they heard Bellatrix up above. "I think we can dispose of the Mudblood. Greyback, take her if you want her." said Bellatrix's voice.

"NOOOO!" Weasley bellowed, dashing up the stairs. Potter immediately followed and Draco watched them go.

"Expelliarmus!" cried Weasley, causing Bellatrix's wand to fly out of her hand to be caught by Harry.

Lucius and Greyback began to furiously duel Potter and Weasley and Draco waited a minute before he ran up the stairs as well.

"Draco! Stop them!" cried Bellatrix, her knife drawn.

Draco joined the duel, shooting random jets of light from his wand non-verbally. No actual spell left his wand, but he had to make it look like it was. Potter shot a stunning spell at Lucius and Draco watched as his father flew back, unconscious. Narcissa stepped forward to replace her husband, shooting terribly aimed spells at Potter and Weasley.

"STOP OR SHE DIES!" cried Bellatrix suddenly, and everyone froze to face her.

She stood in the center of the room, holding Hermione up against her front with her knife pressed to the pale skin of her throat. Draco watched in shock, his eyes drifting down to Hermione's forearm which stood bare in front of them.

He made out the word "Mudblood" carved deeply into her creamy skin and Draco felt his blood run cold at the sight. His sick Aunt had marked Hermione with the vile word, leaving her with a constant reminder of what she was in a Vodemort-run society. Hermione seemed to be unconscious, only being held up by Bellatrix.

"Drop your wands," Bellatrix whispered. "Drop them, or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is!"

Weasley stood rigid, clutching his wand. Potter straightened up, still holding Bellatrix's.

"I said, drop them!" Bellatrix screeched, pressing the blade into Hermione's throat. Draco saw beads of blood appear there.

Potter and Weasley immediately dropped their wands and Draco mentally cursed. How the fuck were they going to get out of this now?

"Now," said Bellatrix softly, a pleased smirk on her lips. "Cissy, I think we ought to tie these little heroes up again, while Greyback takes care of Miss Mudblood. I am sure the Dark Lord will not begrudge you the girl, Greyback, after what you have done tonight." Greyback grinned, eyeing Hermione hungrily.

Just then they all heard a grinding noise from above. All of them tilted their heads to look up, watching as a tiny elf worked at the large chandelier above. Before anyone could do anything else, the chandelier began to tremble and then fall. Bellatrix dropped Hermione and threw herself aside, leaving the chandelier to fall on top of Hermione and Griphook who stood nearby.

All hell broke loose once more as Potter dashed forward, stunning Greyback while Weasley pulled Hermione from the wreckage. Draco stood frozen, watching as she clutched Weasley's arms for support, struggling to hold herself up.

That should be you. He thought bitterly as he watched Weasley wrap an arm around Hermione, leading her away from the wreckage and towards the elf.

"Come, Draco!" called Narcissa, reaching out to take his arm and pulling him to the corner of the room, away from harm.

"Mother we have to get her out-" he began.

"You must not hurt Harry Potter," the elf suddenly squeaked.

"Kill him, Cissy!" shrieked Bellatrix, but there was another loud crack, and Narcissa's wand too flew into the air and landed on the other side of the room.

"You dirty little monkey!" bawled Bellatrix. "How dare you take a witch's wand, how dare you defy your masters?"

"Dobby has no master!" squealed the elf. "Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!"

Before anyone could stop him, the elf took hold of Weasley, Potter, Hermione and the goblin and without another word the group disapparated with a loud crack.

Draco watched as Hermione disappeared, sighing in slight relief. She was gone. She was safe. She would be alright…

Just then the air turned cold and Bellatrix fell to her knees. Draco lifted his head, watching as the Dark Lord stepped into the room, looking around at the destroyed room.

"Bellatrix. You called for me. What is the meaning of this?" he asked in his cold, high pitched tone.

Bellatrix whimpered, bowing before her master. "M-my lord! It was Potter! He was here! He got away, I-I've failed you my Lord!" she cried pathetically.

The Dark Lord froze in his steps, staring at his Death Eaters as Greyback and Lucius began to regain consciousness. "You lost Potter?" he asked, eerily calm.

The Malfoy's, Greyback and Bellatrix did not respond, simply stood there with their heads bowed. "Crucio!" Voldemort cried in anger, and Draco squeezed his eyes shut as he fell to his knees under the pain of the curse.


Hermione collapsed as soon as her feet touched the earth under her. Everything was spinning and the disapparation didn't help. She leaned heavily on Ron as she clutched her left forearm to her chest, breathing heavily.

"Dobby!" she heard Harry cry somewhere nearby. "Dobby, no, don't die, don't die."

Hermione forced her head up, fresh tears forming in her eyes as she watched Harry hold the small elf to his chest. She tried to force her body to stand so she could help Dobby, but she found that she couldn't control her limbs.

Side effects of the Cruciatus curse. The small voice in her head reminded her.

"Harry... Potter..." Dobby croaked his last words and Hermione heard a small sob escape her own throat before everything went black.

A/N: Please read and review! I love, love, love hearing what you all think!